A Novel Ocular Drug Delivery System of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate for Noninfectious Uveitis Treatment

Treatment of anterior uveitis commonly requires 6–8 times daily administration of eye drops, which often leads to poor patient compliance. The treatment of intermediate and posterior uveitis is restricted to either oral medications with significant systemic side effects or local invasive methods, which are more expensive and associated with the development of ocular complications. There is an unmet need for a new drug delivery system that addresses these challenges. DSP-Visulex is a noninvasive drug delivery system that administers dexamethasone sodium phosphate by passive diffusion through the limbal sclera into the interior of the eye utilizing the transscleral pathway. Once-a-week administration of DSP-Visulex treatment regimens (i.e., 1–5 doses per month) has shown to be safe and efficacious for noninfectious uveitis in animal models including anterior uveitis, posterior uveitis, and/or panuveitis. In a clinical study of anterior uveitis, the DSP-Visulex treatments also have been shown to be safe and well tolerated and their efficacy (administered on days 1, 3, 8, and 15 with an optional treatment on Day 22) was comparable to that of the daily prednisolone acetate drops

Influence of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on Fruiting and Yield Characteristics in Ratoon Crop of Banana (Musa spp. AAA) Cv. Grande Naine

In ratoon crop of banana cv. Grande Naine, date of shooting could be advanced by 35 days with application of 200g N in 5 splits + 60g P2O5 (86 days), compared to 300g N in 5 splits + 60g P2O5 (121 days). Subsequently, date of harvest also got advanced by 53 days, and fruits were harvested on 9th December in the same treatment. Higher dose of N fertilization delayed shooting and harvesting period, taking 121 days for shooting and 145 days from shooting to harvest in the treatment 300g N (5 split doses) + 90g P2O5. Various N and P treatments affected bunch weight and number of hands per bunch significantly. Although N and P combination-treatments had no significant effect on bunch weight or number of hands per bunch, application of 200g N in 5 splits and 60g P2O5 per plant gave maximum bunch weight (18.11kg) and number of hands per bunch (10.61). Minimum bunch weight (15.37kg) and the least number of hands per bunch (7.08) were obtained with 150g N in 5 splits + 90g P2O5. Hand-weight (2.20kg), number of fingers per hand (19.75), and finger length (20.30cm) was highest with application of 200g N in 5 splits + 60g P2O5 per plant. Least hand-weight (1.64kg), number of fingers per hand (15.77), and finger-length (17.92cm) was recorded with 150g N in 5 splits + 90g P2O5. Bunch weight, number of hands per bunch, hand-weight and number of fingers per hand too was affected significantly with sole application of nitrogen or phosphorus

Regeneration of isolated protoplasts of Theobroma cacao.

Resumo: Foram estabelecidas condições para o isolamento e regeneração inicial de protoplastos de cacau (Thebroma cacao). Protoplastos foram obtidos a partir de células em suspensão oriundas de folhas e gemas. A combinação das enzimas celulase 4% e macerozyme 2% proporcionou um alto número de protoplastos isolados, com uma viabilidade em torno de 80%. O meio de cultura contendo 7-8% de manitol como estabilizador osmótico proporcionou uma eficiente regeneração dos protoplastos com altas divisões de células. -- Abstract: Conditions were established for efficient isolation and regeneration of protoplasts of cocoa (Theobrama cacao). Protoplasts were obtained from in vilro cell suspension. established from callus derived from leaves and buds. The mix cellulase 4% and e macerocyme 2% yielded high number of protoplasts with a high efficiency of isolation and viability. Regeneration of protoplasts in medium containing 7-8% mannitol as osmoticum presented high cell division

Endovascular Repair of an Aortic Arch Aneurysm using a Branched-Stent Graft

AbstractIntroductionAortic arch aneurysm repair continues to pose a formidable technical challenge in a patient population with significant co-morbidity.ReportWe present a successful endovascular repair of an 8.4cm aortic arch aneurysm, in a 74 year old man, who's previous median sternotomy showed signs of delayed healing, precluding open repair.DiscussionApplied endovascular techniques obviated the need for aortic clamping, cardiac bypass, or hypothermic circulatory arrest, via an approach that was potentially infected

Use of isolated cells and seedlings to detect phytotoxic activity in culture of Fusarium oxysporum in cucumber.

Single cells were isolated from calli from two cultivars of cucumber, Aodai and Caipira and incubated wiht culture filtrate (CF) from Fusarium oxysporum. Rapid cell death occurred, as assessed by the stain fluorescein diacetate in the cells of the cv. Aodai. CF of different ages were assayed for toxic activity with three weel old seedlings of the two cultivars. The autoclaved CF produced the same level of disease symptoms as the non-autoclaved CF; indicating the presence of heat resistant toxic metabolites and the cultivar Caipira showed to be more resistant. 21 and 25 day old CF caused more wilt score in seedlings than CF produced by F. oxysporum with 8 and 14 day old. The severety of wilt in Aodai and Caipira seedlings was shown to be concentration dependen

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Atomic-scale Structural and Chemical Characterization of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Layers Synthesized at the Wafer-Scale with Monolayer Thickness Control

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is a promising two-dimensional insulator with a large band gap and low density of charged impurities that is isostructural and isoelectronic with graphene. Here we report the chemical and atomic-scale structure of CVD-grown wafer-scale (~25 cm2) h-BN sheets ranging in thickness from 1-20 monolayers. Atomic-scale images of h-BN on Au and graphene/Au substrates obtained by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) reveal high h-BN crystalline quality in monolayer samples. Further characterization of 1-20 monolayer samples indicates uniform thickness for wafer-scale areas; this thickness control is a result of precise control of the precursor flow rate, deposition temperature and pressure. Raman and infrared spectroscopy indicate the presence of B-N bonds and reveal a linear dependence of thickness with growth time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows the film stoichiometry, and the B/N atom ratio in our films is 1 + 0.6% across the range of thicknesses. Electrical current transport in metal/insulator/metal (Au/h-BN/Au) heterostructures indicates that our CVD-grown h-BN films can act as excellent tunnel barriers with a high hard-breakdown field strength. Our results suggest that large-area h-BN films are structurally, chemically and electronically uniform over the wafer scale, opening the door to pervasive application as a dielectric in layered nanoelectronic and nanophotonic heterostructures.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figure

275 Effects of ruxolitinib cream on sleep and quality of life over 52 weeks in black patients with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease with phenotypic differences across race and can affect sleep and quality of life (QoL). In 2 phase 3 studies of identical design (TRuE-AD1/TRuE-AD2), patients (pts; ≥12 y with AD for ≥2 y; Investigator’s Global Assessment score 2/3; 3%–20% affected body surface area) were randomized (2:2:1) to twice-daily 0.75% or 1.5% ruxolitinib (RUX; Janus kinase [JAK]1/JAK2 inhibitor) cream or vehicle for 8 wk (continuous treatment), followed by a long-term safety period (LTS; as-needed treatment) up to Wk 52. Pts randomized to RUX cream remained on their regimen during the LTS; pts on vehicle were rerandomized to either RUX cream strength. For Black pts who were initially randomized to the 0.75% RUX cream/1.5% RUX cream/vehicle to 0.75% RUX cream/vehicle to 1.5% RUX cream groups and continued in the LTS (n=91/97/25/22), sleep-related impairment and sleep disturbance scores per Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System at baseline (BL) were 16.3/16.4/15.0/17.5 and 18.9/19.7/17.9/19.8, respectively. Scores had decreased (less impairment) at LTS start in the RUX cream groups (Wk 8; 14.2/14.7/16.1/15.5 and 16.7/17.5/19.0/19.4) and were below BL at Wk 52 in all groups (14.3/14.8/13.9/14.4 and 18.0/18.0/17.4/16.3). Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores were decreased at Wk 8 (mean change from BL, −7.4/−6.6/−3.8/−4.8); decreased scores were maintained to Wk 52 (−7.1/−6.5/−5.6/−8.8). Results were similar for children’s DLQI (Wk 8, −4.0/−6.9/−4.0/−3.0 [n=12/9/1/3]; Wk 52, −5.6/−11.6/−12.0/−7.3 [n=9/7/1/4]). In summary, sleep and QoL improved with RUX cream; improvements were maintained for 44 wk with as-needed use in Black pts

287 Effects of ruxolitinib cream on pruritus in black patients with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease that has phenotypic differences across race and can be more severe in Black patients. In two phase 3 identical design studies (TRuE-AD1/TRuE-AD2), patients (≥12 years old with AD for ≥2 years, Investigator’s Global Assessment [IGA] score 2/3, 3%–20% affected body surface area) were randomized (2:2:1) to twice-daily 0.75% or 1.5% ruxolitinib (Janus kinase [JAK]1/JAK 2 inhibitor) cream or vehicle for 8 weeks. Here we describe the effect of ruxolitinib cream on itch in Black patients using pooled data from the 2 studies (n=292). Mean itch numerical rating scale (NRS) score at baseline was 5.3/5.4 for ruxolitinib cream (0.75%/1.5%) and 5.7 for vehicle. Reductions in mean itch NRS score with ruxolitinib cream (0.75%/1.5%) were evident within approximately 12 hours of first application (–0.6/–0.7 vs −0.2 for vehicle), with statistically significant reductions by Day 4 vs vehicle (–1.4/–1.6 vs –0.6; both P\u3c0.05). For those with baseline itch NRS ≥4 (n=187; 64.0%), more patients achieved ≥4-point itch NRS improvement vs vehicle by Day 2 (6.1%/16.4% vs 0%); this increased to 15.9%/26.6% vs 3.0% on Day 7 and 30.1%/43.2% vs 17.5% at Week 8 (P=0.212/P=0.009). More patients applying 0.75%/1.5% ruxolitinib cream vs vehicle reported no days of itch per question 1 of the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) at Week 2 (19.0%/19.4% vs 5.3%); this increased at Week 8 (34.0%/30.8% vs 12.2%). In summary, ruxolitinib cream monotherapy over 8 weeks was associated with rapid and considerable itch relief in Black patients with AD